We love guiding and we revel in being able to show our customers the best of what Whatcom County has to offer. Let’s ride!
We offer tailor made guided rides in all four riding areas in Whatcom County. Whatever your taste, we have the route for you! Check out the descriptions below for a broad outline of what to expect from our four riding areas within 15 minutes drive of Bellingham.
RIDE PRICING and CANCELLATION POLICY
3 Hour Rides - $265 for up to 2 people. 3 riders would be $135ea, 4 to 8 riders $125 ea. 9 to 12 riders $110 ea.
7 Hour Rides (includes half-hour break for lunch) - $420 for up to 2 people. 3 riders would be $220ea/day, 4 to 8 riders $195ea/day, 7 to 12 riders $170/day.
We also charge state tax of 8.8%, but we do NOT charge additional service fees.
Bikes: We’re happy to provide rental bikes, Cost per bike is $100 plus tax per (3-tour or day)). If you’re booking multiple days, bikes rented through us go home with the guide at the end of the day. If you would prefer to rent a bike yourself from a local shop or, we suggest using Jack’s Bicycle Center or Fanatik Bike. Fanatik will reserve ahead of time. Jack’s does not.
Cancellation Policy: We do not cancel or reschedule for rain or smoke, but we will for winds above 20mph or snow accumulation. If we cancel your guided ride, we will issue you a full refund, We do not give refunds for cancellations on your part. If you’re concerned about circumstances that would lead to you needing to cancel, we suggest purchasing trip insurance.
LODGING
The Luxurious Convenient Option - If you’re in a group and you want to minimise the drive time, it’s hard to beat Galby Getaway. Located at the South Side Entrance to Galbraith Mountain (on Galbraith Lane) , the Getaway allows visitors to venture from their doorstep directly to the trails. This is a recently built home with aminites specifically for mountain bikers including bike wash and storage. Did I mention that it’s rediculously convenient? If you’re looking to explore the trails, it definitely is. Click HERE for Galby Getaway.
The Not-Quite-as-Convenient, but-a-Whole-Lot-Cheaper-for-Small-Groups Option - Four Points is a hotel that is centrally located near Downtown Bellingham on Lakeway Blvd. It’s convenient to the Interstate, Galbraith and nightlife. Whereas Galby Getaway is convenient to the trails at Galbraith, Four Points is convenient to everything, Rent a room here and you can reasonably pedal the 2.3 miles to the trails at Galbraith (Birch Street Entrance). If you’re looking to fly into Sea-Tac and completely avoid using a car during your stay, this is your hotel. Click HERE for Four Points.
The Novel-Yet-Reasonably-Priced Option - It’s not the closest, but the Heliotrope Hotel is definitely novel and communal. They have facilities for bikes (bike wash and storage) and a modern esthetic in the rooms. This converted/updated 50’s road side motel is the coolest in town due to it’s history and layout. And the hotel makes the most of the simi-private common space out front to do weekly events during the summer including music and gatherings.. Click HERE for Heliotrope Hotel
Bellingham Riding Areas
GALBRAITH MOUNTAIN
Galbraith is the most we’ll known riding spot in Bellingham. Galby (as the locals refer to it) has upwards of 65 miles, so there is no shortage of options in terms of routes. Galby is great if you enjoy man made trail features including, jumps, drops, berms and even some North Shore style wood work. There’s tons of that here. It’s the most build up option of the three and it’s also the most a good choice if you’re unsure how long you want to or can ride, A short or long ride could be done easily at Galbraith.
Fitness Level: Easy to Strenuous
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Pros: Lots of options for routes and trail types, plenty of jumps and man made technical features. Long or short rides possible.
Cons: Extensive logging means it’s not the most natural looking mountain (although we now have some peekaboo views of Bellingham Bay now). It’s a confusing maze of trails if you don’t know your way.
CHUCKANUT MOUNTAIN
Chuckanut is the enduro paradise. Home to the annual Chuckanut Enduro, Chuckanut is the steep and chunky option. Expect roots, rocks, drop-offs, berms and some exposure. Signature trails are Double Black (it’s largely a misnomer), Double Down (not a misnomer), the Ridge Trail and Hush Hush.
Fitness Level: Strenuous
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Pros: Steep, challenging natural terrain. Longest descents in B’ham (up to 1800’). Beautiful view of Bellingham Bay. Optional natural features such committed rock rolls. Can be shuttled (drive to the top). Has well estabished 100+ year old forests that are extremely lush.
Cons: Harder to do a short/mellow ride here. Steep sections. Exposure in spots (mainly on Double Down). Climb is fairly strenuous (but not unreasonable) by bike.
BLANCHARD MOUNTAIN
Blanchard in recent years has become a land of extremes. On one end of the spectrum there’s flowey, buttery singletrack and on the other, there is some of the steepest, most technical riding in the county. Either way, you should expect to work for it. For the XC route, The trails are a whoot and fun for nearly all abilities. For the XC Route, the trail down is nearly all flowing singletrack. Not too steep, but enough to carry plenty of speed with just a pedal or two here and there. Once you’re at the top, Oyster Dome Lookout provides sweeping views of the bay. Highlight trail would be Lizzard Lilly Trail going down. Flowey goodness that seems to go on indefinitely. Or at least for 20 glorious minutes, Regardless of skill level, this ride is a hell of a lot of fun, For the Gnarly Route, There is a different, but similar pedal in (in terms of physical exertion to get to the down, On the descent, expect steep, natural features including roots, sharp rocks, chutes, drop offs and more. This is the toughest tech trail in the Bellingham, WA. Definitely bring your pads if you decide on the Gnarly Route
Fitness Level: Moderate to approaching strenuous
Skill Level: Easy to Expert depending on route
Pros: Climb is moderately strenuous if relatively long. Not too bad. Woods are pretty. Great lookout. Buttery, flowey, undulating singletrack that’s a blast and seems to go on and on! OR Strenuous pedal in and out with a technical smorgasbord on the down, Not for the faint of heart.
Cons: Limited number of trail options. Few mad-made features.
STEWART MOUNTAIN
A developing riding area with some real charm. Currently, it’s just one loop on Stewart and it’s not 100% done yet. The WMBC is in process adding to the top end to extend the length and doing some tuning as well as to make what was an old school loamer (natural rake and ride style trail) into an all-mountain ripper. The climb is currently one of our favorites, due to its rolling character and the beauty of the second growth forest. And the downhill - though it’s still needs a little work - has sections of shear joy mostly due to it’s natural steepness a bit of roughness and an some truly exceptional descending berm turns turns.
Fitness Level: Moderate to approaching strenuous
Skill Level: Moderate to advanced, Moderate roughness, but must be comfortable with steep trail
Pros: Lovely sustained climb with a scenic overlook of Lake Whatcom 2/3rds of the way up. Roller coaster style descent with steep sections that are bermed and natural, and an absolute hoot! If you feel comfortable with the grade, you’ll find moments of sheer joy on the down. Overall flow is pretty sweet.
Cons: There is still a bit of work yet to do on this one Including some flow tuning at the very top and a bit of drainage work at the bottom. Trail is a lasso shape, meaning the descent doesn’t end at the very bottom. The last 20% of downhill is on the climbing trail.